Trainer Clive Cox has Harry Angel primed for Champions Sprint Stakes to savour
Harry Angel, superb winner of the Darley July Cup and 32Red Sprint Cup, heads a stellar entry of 14 in the mix for the QIPCO British Champions Sprint Stakes.
The Clive Cox-trained three-year-old, who is owned by Godolphin, is officially rated the highest-rated sprinter in the world.
Four other speedsters who have won at least one Group One race - Caravaggio, The Tin Man (winner of the Sprint last year), Quiet Reflection and Brando – also line up.
In addition, Tasleet and Washington DC have been placed in Group One races run at Ascot and remain in the mix.
Clive Cox said of Harry Angel: "We were thrilled with his performance at Haydock. He’s come back absolutely fine and the time scale between then and Champions Day is perfect. We’ve had a chance to see if he’s in good order and keep him in good order. He’s in a good frame of mind and we are very happy with him.
“We’ve got no concerns from a going point of view, which is great. I know a lot of people say a good horse will go on any ground, but finding that one is pretty difficult in my mind. We are very lucky.
“In The Sandy Lane [on firm going], where he broke the track record, he was very impressive and our concern at Haydock last time was the heavy ground, but we all witnessed he was equally impressive – breathtaking really."
The QIPCO British Champions Long Distance Cup will launch Champions Day in style with the hugely anticipated rematch between Big Orange and Order Of St George, separated by inches in a pulsating Gold Cup at Royal Ascot in June, set to open the day’s racing. Also in the mix and added at the supplementary stage is Her Majesty the Queen’s, Dartmouth, who won the Betway Yorkshire Cup by a neck in May.
Big Orange prevailed by a short head at the Royal Meeting and subsequently made a valiant attempt to win a third successive Qatar Goodwood Cup, beating all bar Stradivarius, while Order Of St George has since gained a second runaway win in the Irish St Leger and been fourth to Enable in the Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe.
Stradivarius, a close third in the William Hill St Leger since his defeat of Big Orange at Goodwood, also features among the nineteen horses who remain in the Group Two two-mile feature.
Gosden said of Stradivarius: "He’s been a revelation this year – his wins in the Queen’s Vase at Royal Ascot and Goodwood Cup were fabulous. If the ground is decent, he will run.
"He’s in very good form and was finishing strongly in the Leger where he got to race on his own a bit – the race was happening in the middle, and he was on the rail, and then in the next moment he’s coming back at them. It was probably the best Leger run for a very long time – and run hard. He will be a lot of fun in the Cup races next year."
Sheikhzayedroad, winner of the Long Distance Cup last year, is on course to defend his crown, while Desert Skyline, the Doncaster Cup winner. Montaly, who landed the Weatherbys Hamilton Lonsdale Cup at York in August, and Seventh Heaven for O’Brien add tremendous depth.
Andrew Balding said of Montaly: "He’s run well at Ascot in the past without winning and enjoys a bit of give in the ground. He seems to enjoy breaks between his races and I probably ran him too soon at Doncaster [last time]. He’s now had over a month’s break going into Ascot and I think that will serve him well."
A maximum field of 20 is again on the cards after 44 entries stood their ground for Europe’s most valuable mile handicap, the Balmoral Handicap (sponsored by QIPCO).
The ante-post market leaders, Zabeel Prince and Lord Glitters have stood their ground. The former was an impressive winner from Bravery at York last Friday and has lost only one of his four starts, while the latter made an eye-catching British debut for David O’Meara when splitting Accidental Agent and Raising Sand, who he could meet again, in the seven-furlong totescoop6 Challenge Cup at Ascot earlier this month.
Bronze Angel, winner of the race in 2014, could try to regain his crown at the age of eight but is not the oldest among the entries. That honour goes to the evergreen Belgian Bill, who is nine and won the Royal Hunt Cup in 2013.
Saeed Bin Suroor saddled Musaddas to win the Balmoral Handicap in 2015 and has Mountain Hunter lined up whilst Richard Fahey has a trio engaged, including Gabrial, who was third to Solow in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes on QIPCO British Champions Day two years ago.
Firmament (third) made his presence felt in last year’s renewal of the Balmoral, won by Yuften, while Master The World, winner of the Betfred Mile Handicap at this year’s Qatar Goodwood Festival, is one of two possible runners for David Elsworth.
An entry of great depth also includes Gm Hopkins, who was the runner-up two years ago. Stamp Hill, Mjjack and Withernsea, the first three home in the Gigaset International Stakes at Ascot in July, are also engaged.
Trainer John Gosden said of Gm Hopkins: "Old Gm runs again, it will probably be his last race for us as he’s going to the Horses In Training sale. He’s in great order but the handicapper has him somewhat by the throat, which isn’t a pleasant experience for a horse but we could not be more pleased with him but are looking forward to running him yet again at Ascot."
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